Leeds Indie Food Festival 2016 details emerge

Fresh off the back of the city’s first mouth-watering showcase of independent food and drink in 2015, more than 80 diverse vendors have already signed up to celebrate the area’s produce as part of the second Leeds Indie Food Festival.

Organisers have announced that the success of last year’s debut event, which featured more than 100 food and drink events, has meant many of the region’s indie restaurants, bars, street vendors and coffee shops have already shown an appetite for a second course.

Everything from tasting events and edible art exhibitions to cookery workshops and dine-along film screenings have been confirmed in the first round of events to be announced for the 2016 festival, which will run from May 12 to 30.

Matt Dix, one of the Leeds Indie Food organisers, said: “This year’s Leeds Indie Food is looking full to the brim. We’ve taken the best bits of last year’s festival and mixed them up with new ideas and new participants, and all the businesses involved are raring to go. We’ve got a great mix of events, from fine dining to food culture, so everyone should find something to love.”

Leeds Indie Food will again climax with a Leeds Feast event, which last year welcomed more than 6,000 people to The Tetley, but the finale of this year’s festival will be spread around Leeds’ Northern Quarter on May 28.

Visitors can pick and choose the events they wish to attend although a Festival Passport offering priority tickets, discounts, freebies and deals at festival venues is available for £10. This year’s festival is being run in partnership with Leeds City Council.

Coun Judith Blake, leader of the council, said: “Leeds is a vibrant and diverse city, with an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars and cafes. The independent scene in Leeds is thriving and food and drink is at the heart of it.”

For further information visit leedsindiefood.co.uk.

Confirmed events so far:

The Edible Art Exhibition: City of Cake (edible sculpture)

Leeds Feast (multi-venue family friendly street food event)

BundoBrunch (Laynes Espresso and Bundobust)

50x50: A Night at the Spa (50 course tasting menu)

Keg vs Cork (craft beer and wine festival)

In Defence of Plants (brunch from Noisette Bakehouse and Top With Cinnamon)

The Archive Society Presents: The Victorian Dinner Table (exhibition at Leeds Library)

The #LIF16 Conversation: What Makes Us Independent? (discussion panel)

Women – Art – Food (exhibition and dinner series with female chefs)

Belgrave Feast (street food and arts market)

The Return of The House of Fu Schnikens (Asian street food pop up)

Afsaneh’s Persian Kitchen (supper club)

Leeds Indie Coffee (independent café and roastery gathering)

Get Cooking: Introduction to Charcuterie (cookery course)

Get Cooking: Wild Food Cooking (cookery course)

Brandon Street Night Market X Hedonist Project (cocktails and street food at Canal Mills)

Coffee Shop North (launch of the crowdfunded art book)

Live Art Dining (supper club and performance art at Live Art Bistro)

Wine Pairing at Decanter (collaboration with Yorkshire Wine School)

Headingley Food Fair (independent food and arts market)

Hey! The Leeds Indie Food Lectures (industry interviews)

Leeds SOUP (microfunding event)

Dinner at the Manor: Froth and Fodder (secret supper club)

Coffee and Cocktails (collaboration between La Bottega Milanese and The Maven)

North Star Coffee Roasters Home Brew Masterclass (hands on workshop)

School Diner (street food and family fun at Chapel Allerton Primary School)

Meet The Brewer events at: Little Leeds Beer House, Tall Boys Beer Market, The Turk’s Head and more…

Galician Beer and Sherry Dinner (Pintura)